Sluggish but stylish starter smartphone

The budget smartphone Galaxy A12 from Samsung is more than just an iterative update of the Galaxy A11 – with a larger battery, another camera and much more on board. Value hunters will also appreciate that Samsung managed to keep its price below $ 200. How well are these new upgrades doing? Let’s find out in our Samsung Galaxy A12 review.

• Samsung Galaxy A12 (3GB, 32GB): $ 179.99
• Samsung Galaxy A12 (4GB, 64GB): $ 189.99 / £ 169.99 / € 179.99 / Rs. 13,999
• Samsung Galaxy A12 (6GB, 128GB): $ 195.99 / Rs. 16,499

Samsung unveiled its Galaxy A12 in November 2020 as the direct successor to the Galaxy A11 before it was brought to the US in April 2021. The Galaxy A12 offers a total of six different configurations, starting with just 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage. However, only three are currently available in the United States (see above). Whichever route you go, you also have access to four color options – red, blue, black and white.

Our Samsung Galaxy A12 came on board with Android 10, although the Android 11 update with Samsung’s One UI 3.1 is available via OTA. At the time of testing, the Android security patch from July 1, 2021 was also running. It will receive software updates for two years and security patches for a total of four years that the Galaxy A12 will wear by the end of 2024 or early 2025.

See also: The best Samsung phones you can buy

Once you get out of the software, you’ll find that the MediaTek Helio P35 SoC works on Samsung’s entry-level device. The RAM and storage options are phenomenal at 6GB and 128GB respectively, and the microSD slot allows you to go even further. A 5,000 mAh battery and a 6.5-inch HD + panel connect everything, and the display comes complete with an Infinity V-Notch. In India there is a variant that swaps the Helio P35 for Samsung’s own Exynos 850 chipset.

Samsung took its wired earbuds out of the box this time around, although it still offers a charging block and a USB-C cable. You also get a SIM ejector tool and basic startup guide in case you need help getting started.

The Galaxy A12 comfortably fits in the sub-$ 200 price range, but there are plenty of other phones to consider. Motorola’s Moto G Play and Moto G Power are leading names in this segment, and the OnePlus Nord N200 offers a little more punch if you can spend the $ 240. Samsung’s own Galaxy A32 5G is also a good option, though it’s still more expensive at $ 279.

Budget-friendly phones seem almost determined to add mirrored backs and fingerprint magnetic surfaces to add a touch of quality. Fortunately, the Samsung Galaxy A12 is bucking the trend and instead opting for a matte finish that feels soft to the touch. I also appreciate the raised diagonal ribs as they add a little extra support to the overall design.

Thanks to the large 6.5-inch display, a good grip is a must if you want to go without a case. Even though this display has HD + resolution, it’s still perfectly large and clear enough for you to watch your latest shows. We’ll always praise a headphone jack, and wired headphones are the best way to enjoy the sound of the Galaxy A12 as opposed to the mono down-facing speakers.

Samsung has also chosen to leave the Galaxy A11’s rear-mounted fingerprint reader in the past. Instead, the Galaxy A12 uses a side-mounted option that is very quick and easy to use, and that cleans up the overall look of the device.

The back adorns Samsung’s camera array, which is rounded off by a 48-megapixel main shooter that works well enough outdoors for a budget camera phone (see later in this review for examples). You can also tap the macro and ultra-wide cameras for added flexibility. Navigating the camera app is a breeze, although it may take a moment or two to find the macro button since it’s hidden under the More tab.

Samsung’s One UI is one of the better Android skins out there right now, and it’s pretty much always on the Galaxy A12. The Samsung Free app in particular is something like Google’s Discover feed, but with a kick. Instead of just offering news, Samsung Free brings Samsung TV Plus, Samsung Podcasts, Taboola News and Instant Plays into one place. And the best thing about it: you don’t have to spend a penny for it.

The Galaxy A12 is also a battery wizard, at least when it comes to charging. I had no problem getting through two days of light games, answering emails, and surfing social media.

What’s not so good?

The Samsung Free app might be a nice addition to the overall package, but Samsung hasn’t stopped here deciding how much to add to its version of Android. Unfortunately, there are tons of additional apps on the Galaxy A12, most of which take up space. It comes with a full suite of Google apps as well as Samsung apps which add a lot of redundancy. There are even Microsoft options like Office, OneDrive, and Outlook. You’ll also come across Shop Samsung, Galaxy Shop, and the Galaxy Store – how many people actually need two Samsung stores and a Play Store alternative?

The good news is that you can at least uninstall the Microsoft-based bloat, but it doesn’t help much delaying the Galaxy A12’s bias. MediaTek’s Helio P35 doesn’t always seem up to the task of powering the 6.5-inch display, and switching between apps only slows things down even more. The limited memory and storage won’t help, so be sure to check out the 4GB RAM / 64GB storage version if you find it.

Although Samsung includes a solid main lens with the Galaxy A12, the fun peripheral options aren’t always in good shape. The macro lens is only 2 MP, and it took a few tries to achieve the reasonably clear sample image below. You won’t find a dedicated night mode on the Galaxy A12 either, so you’ll likely have to endure some trial and error beyond the hours of the day.

While all phones add a bit of magic after the shutter button is pressed, the end result for photos taken with the Galaxy A12 was often significantly better than what the camera app indicated. For example, the low-light image below looked noticeably darker when I pressed the shutter button, and none of the images in comparison looked as clean as you see them. Most of the time this was a nice surprise in the end, but it makes judging your shot a little tricky. Portrait mode wasn’t as good at edge detection either, as you can see in the example around my hair.

Samsung may have put a solid battery in its Galaxy A12, but the 15W charging speeds are woefully too weak for even a cheap phone like this one. I was only able to charge from 3% to 23% in 30 minutes, with a full charge taking over two hours.

Samsung Galaxy A12 camera examples

The Samsung Galaxy A12 is a solid upgrade over the Galaxy A11 in almost every way. What this budget-friendly phone brings with it is a good 48-megapixel main camera, great battery life, and Samsung’s clean and attractive One UI software. Unfortunately, peripheral cameras lack punch and lag performance can be frustrating, but those are expected tradeoffs in this price range.

We mentioned that the Galaxy A12 lands near Motorola’s Moto G Power ($ 249) and Moto G Play ($ 169), and works well for someone buying their first smartphone. The lack of 5G limits its future prospects, though you might want to try the OnePlus Nord N200 ($ 239) or splurge a bit on Samsung’s Galaxy A32 5G ($ 279) if you want top speeds. Samsung’s Galaxy A12 is also available from Verizon, US Cellular, and AT&T.